| HARPENDEN
I: 2
WAPPING I: 0
6.11.04
A
superb team performance saw Harpenden open up the top of Division
2 by overcoming runaway league-leaders Wapping 2-0.
The game started
at a fantastic pace with both teams looking to prove their form
coming into the match up of the season so far. Some excellent
defensive play was all that could stop either team registering
a goal early on. Wapping came close from a well worked penalty
corner when the striker flicked narrowly over the bar. Searching
balls from captain Mike Emes at centre midfield were a constant
threat throughout the opening exchanges, and would have resulted
in Harps taking the lead had the umpire not disallowed what seemed
a perfectly good Mark Wakeling strike.
Harpenden
consistently built excellent passing sequences, placing their
opposition under increasing pressure as the half went on. Their
industry culminated in a fluid passing move from defence through
to the attacking line. New recruit, Lance Boyd-Clark found Todd
Baines in the D whose unselfish first time pass laid the ball
back for Russell Timms at the far post who slotted home to score
the goal of the season so far. Even the Wapping captain agreed
after the game, 'we haven't conceded a goal that good for many
years.'
The incisive
passing play continued from the Blues. Superb work down the right
by Paul Davison in an unfamiliar right full-back role was a constant
thorn in the side of the visitors defence. It was Boyd-Clark who
was once again involved in breaking down the Wapping midfield
play. His pass found Russell Timms at the top of the circle. Timms
jinked and turned, trying to get a clear strike on goal but the
Wapping marker's deliberate foul on the striker, resulted in a
penalty stroke. Emes stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the
wrong way, slotting the ball home to double the lead going into
half time.
Harps had
their work cut out when they returned to the field for the second
half. A rejuvenated Wapping team came out fighting, looking to
prove their league-leader credentials. However, Harps were resilient.
Superb defensive work by the back four and keeper Ben Brind kept
wave after wave of attacks at bay. The defending became more heroic
as the game went on and defender Sam Martyn was sin-binned for
going in too hard on a 50-50 challenge. However, even when the
Blues were down to 10 men, Wapping could find no way through,
and this epic game finished 2-0.
Harpenden
are now joint top of Division 2 South, and hold the best defensive
record in the league. With the league table taking shape, the
Blues will need to maintain their current form into this Saturday's
encounter with Upminster.
Report
by Michael Emes
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